Religious groups meet with Dayton Sunday

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About 1,500 people from 90 religious congregations in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud will meet Sunday with Mark Dayton and his transition team in an effort, the group hopes, “to launch a statewide partnership aimed at eliminating the state’s racial and economic inequities.”

It’s sponsored by ISAIAH, which defines itself as “a collection of congregations who have committed themselves to each other in order to build power for a worldview that prioritizes racial and economic justice.”

Both Dayton and Republican Tom Emmer were invited to the gathering in Minneapolis, called “Shining the Light: A Faith Gathering For Minnesota’s Future.” The group said there had been no response from Emmer, who is trailing Dayton as a recount continues in the governor’s race.

Dayton will address the meeting and member of his transition team will participate in round-table discussions on creating equity in our education system and ensuring that public investments spur racial and economic justice.

“Minnesota is rapidly becoming more multi-racial,” said the Rev. Paul Slack, pastor of New Creation Church in Brooklyn Park, and co-chair of ISAIAH’s Clergy and Religious Leaders Caucus. “While one in 25 people over age 65 is a person of color, one in three children is a person of color. The faith community is on the front lines of witnessing the disparities between white Minnesotans and Minnesotans of color. We are going to be on the front lines of conquering them too.”